Festival of Felines helping cats find forever homes
by Margaret Hurlbert
December 02, 2022

MUSCATINE, Iowa—On average, the Muscatine Humane Society cares for 600 cats and kittens each year, housing, feeding, and providing medical care for them until a loving individual or family adopts them. This winter, the Humane Society has a high number of cats, 200 in all, that need forever homes. “We urgently need to move cats out,” Muscatine Humane Society Director Chris McGinnis stressed: “Every nook and cranny of the shelter has cages and pet taxis full of cats. We are even housing them in our surgery room.” To help ease the overcrowding and find cats the families they need, the Muscatine Humane Society will hold a Festival of Felines through Dec. 31 where they will waive the application fee for all cats for approved adopters.

When families or individuals would like to adopt a cat from the Muscatine Humane Society, they must first complete an application. Humane Society staff vet each application to make sure people understand the obligations they have towards their pets and to help get an idea of what sorts of animals might suit them best. Once the Humane Society approves an application, the individual or family, along with any pets they may have, may come to the shelter in person to meet and get acquainted with adoptable animals. Humane Society staff will gladly work with people to help them determine what age of cat and which different personalities would work best with their activity level and the number of children and other pets in their households. The Humane Society currently has very young kittens all the way through 14-year-old senior cats, making it easy for people to find a feline friend to bond with.

During the Muscatine Humane Society’s Festival of Felines, all adopters with an approved application may adopt a cat or kitten for free. Photo courtesy the Muscatine Humane Society.

When people adopt a cat or kitten from the Muscatine Humane Society, the shelter also sets them up with many of the items they will need for success. The Humane Society spays or neuters all the cats the adopt out; gets them age -appropriate vaccines including those for rabies, distemper, and common upper respiratory viruses; microchips them; and treats them for common parasites, such as worms, fleas, and ear mites. Additionally, adopters receive a goody bag of assorted cat toys to try, a sample size box of World’s Best Cat Litter, and a certificate for a free wellness exam redeemable at nine different local vet offices.

With people spending more time indoors because of the colder weather and anticipating having time off for the holiday season, now represents a great time to bring a new cat home to get acquainted. It will also allow the Muscatine Humane Society to make space for additional stray animals, who especially need a warm and safe place to stay in during the chilly parts of the year. “I would encourage people who are already thinking about adopting a cat to do it during this event because we have an excellent selection and you can’t find a better value,” McGinnis said. “Plus, adopting now will make room for others to move into the adoption wing.”

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